Tag: Dreamy Date

As the old saying goes ‘there’s no place like home’ and having grown up close by to the North Yorkshire Moors I was excited to be heading up north to this charming corner of England albeit via the beyond busy M1.

My hubby and I had planned a well-needed mini break that included a night in Ox Pasture Hall Hotel – a luxury country house hotel nestled between the tranquil hills of North Yorkshire and the charming seaside town of Scarborough.

Having never entered the doors of this landmark hotel before, I was really intrigued to have a peek inside the London institution that is The Ritz Hotel and of course I was rather excited about all of the tasty teatime treats that awaited us too.

My husband and I had received ‘Champagne Afternoon Tea for Two’ as a gift from his very kind and generous brother and our sister-in-law. We decided to save the experience and indulge on our first wedding anniversary, which of course made the occasion even more memorable.

Dressing up in our best outfits (smart attire is a must) really added to the feeling that we were headed somewhere special. We arrived (I tottered – heels and the Underground are not a good combo for me) at Green Park tube station which is directly adjacent to The Ritz.

Open for over 100 years, The Ritz is one of the world’s most famous hotels. It does not fail to disappoint its visitors by serving up some quintessentially British old school charm, coupled with copious amounts of classic grandeur. Greeted by doormen looking positively regal in their royal blue top hats and tails, we swung through the iconic revolving door and into the elegant lobby.

We were guided to our table in the center of the opulent Palm Court where afternoon tea is served. The resident pianist Ian Gomes aided in creating a buzzy ambience as he performed classical favourites, as did the room full of guests, I suspect there is never an empty seat at any of the afternoon tea sittings.

The decor is decadent; miniature palms in pretty pots decorate the entrance, spectacular chandeliers hang from the domed ceiling over impressive floral centerpieces and the walls are delicately decorated in gold and pastel pink.